News Broadcasting
Sify Limited promotes Sivaramakrishnan to president of portal biz
MUMBAI: Sify Limited has announced the promotion of V.Sivaramakrishnan as the president of its portal business. Prior to this, he held the position of vice president of the iWay cyber café chain business.
With over 18 years of experience in marketing consumer brands, Sivaramakrishnan has a track record of managing brands, sales, and customer service for global market leaders such as Procter & Gamble and Ford, both in India and abroad. During his career with them, he has led brand, sales and customer service teams, championing marketing and sales initiatives for brands such as Vicks, Pampers, Old Spice, Ford Fiesta, Ford Ikon and the Ford Endeavour, informs an official release.
He is a management graduate from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi and as part of Ford’s Asia-Pacific marketing leadership team, first in the US and subsequently in the UK, Sivaramakrishnan has led the development and launch of Ford’s new generation of small cars, the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion, into markets like Australia, Japan, South Africa, and China. He was also part of the Ford India marketing leadership team and led the successful launch of Ford’s Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta and Endeavour in India. In his previous role as Vice President of the iWay cyber cafe business, he was instrumental in leading their transformation from Internet browsing centers to becoming e-stores by introducing break-through alliances and initiatives, adds the release.
Commenting on his appointment, Sify Limited CEO and managing director Raju Vegesna said, “I am very pleased to announce Siva’s promotion as President, Sify Portals. In his earlier role as Vice President of the iWay cyber café chain business, Siva brought a deep insight and understanding of consumers, and executed initiatives to grow business revenues through innovative services, products and promotions in synergy with our portal strategies. While we will see the result of these efforts going forward, I believe that he will bring a fresh perspective to how we grow our portals and online advertising business both in India and overseas. With his rich experience in building brands, understanding of media, marketing and consumer behaviour, I am confident he will play a key role in further strengthening and growing our portal business in tandem with our access strategies.”
Sivaramakrishnan said, “I am really excited about this opportunity as it will enable me to bring to bear all of my previous experience with consumers, brands, marketing, media and the Internet in building our portals business. The Net is the most exciting medium of our times, and it will be our intention to maximize the opportunities presented by this versatile medium for compelling and relevant online content for Indians, to add to the quality of their lives. This includes extending the leadership we have in broadband content with www.sifymax.in, our popular portal www.sify.com, our city-centric broadband portal strategies, and www.samachar.com, the most popular site for non-resident Indians.
“I will also be involved in growing the online advertising business with marketers as they begin to understand the flexibility, focus and power that online advertising gives them for cost effective brand promotions, and overseeing Sify’s consumer brand marketing for both the portals and access businesses for greater synergies. I believe this will be the most exciting and challenging phase of my career, and I look forward to making a difference to Sify’s pioneering efforts for exciting India-centric online content in synergy with our access businesses,” he added.
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
